Quick-release speed amplifier



March 23 i926.

A. s. SPINNEY QUICK RELEASE SPEED AMPLIFIER Filed April e, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 er E.

March 23 1926. 1,577,498

` A. G. SPINNEY QUICK RELEASE SPEED AMPLIFIER Filed April G, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 24 2 '29 26 32 40 sa 573e 39 41 35 23 j on 11 Patented Mai'. 23, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATEN ANDREW C'. SPINNEY, 0F PORTLAND, MAINE ASSIGNOR- 0F A. TWIGG, OF PORTLAND, MAINE.

teilige T OFFICE.

ONE-.HALF T0 CHARLES' QUICK-RELEASE SPEED AMPLIFIER.

Application filed April 6, 1925. Serial No. 21,254.

vice which may be employed to convert, au-

toinatically, a slow, steady primary movement, often of great potency, into a sudden,

precipitate secondary movement or reciprocation of certain elements which require to lbe actuated intermittently, and in a very rapid manner.

' One of the objects of my invention is to .produce an apparatus which may be used in connection with such service as the quick opening or closing of valves, a snappy movement as the on and olf ofk electric switches, a feed reverse mechanisnifor certain classes of machine tools and in any situation where the source of lthe actuating r power may be fluctuating and adaptable of contro-l.

In my present vapplication I have illustrated and described the device as it would function in the capacity of a temperature regulator for hot water tanks, as its application for this service is particularly effective.

IV ith the increasing use of gas fuel for water heating purposes it is always convenient, and sometimes absolutely essential, to providewith the heater an automatic regulating mechanism of some sort to serve as a control for the gas burner. l

In the use of hot water tanks it frequently becomes necessary to draw a large amount of hot water at one time. The hot water will at once be replaced by cold water. some of the earlier types of thermostatic control devices the gas valve will start to open immediately upon the temperature of the tank water beginning to lower. This opening will .increase by degrees until the thermo As'the 'watube has contracted to its limit. u tei' gradually becomes heated the thermo tube will slowly expand; meanwhile the ygais valve, controlled directly Vby the thermostat, vlwill begin to close, and result in a wiredi'awing'of the gas through the valve until 'such time" as it becomes fully closed. The" thermostat 'functions as a result et the rise.

,connected to the valve, .not be, a built in element in the structure.

'parts so that a variable lith f istie of such mechanisms.

in temperature of the water much more slowly than from alowering of the temperature of the same, due to the fact that it reguires a longer period to heat the water than it does .to empty the tank. The gas is therefore wire-drawing over a. considerable period of the heating operation and delays the latter materially. Another prolific source of trouble caused by the wire-drawing vof the gas through thevalve is what is known as back-lighting, or ignition of the gas in the mixing tube.

Incontrast to this method of operating the valve, my device holds the valve full open from the time the theromo-tube is fully contracted until the desired rise of temperature in the water is reaclied,-and then rapidly closes.

My amplifier is compactlv built, mav be attached to any hot water tank and the gas line which may, or may There is provision made for adjusting the range of temperature of the water may be obtained.v

In 'the following specification and in the drawings annexed, I have describedand illustrated, respectively, one embodiment of my invention, and in the drawings, in which like characters of reference. refer to similar parts in all views,

Fig. lis a side elevation of the amplifier, showing a gas valve and a fragmentary view ofthe thermostat;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same, with the valve in section;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation, with the valve eliminated;

.Figs 4, 5 and 6 represent different positions of' the parts during different periods 1n the sequence of operation;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of theshock absorber, taken on line 7 -7 Fig. 2;

Fig.j8 a section on line 8-`8, Fig. 2,

Fig. v9 is a central view through the thermostat and connecting levers, and Fig. 10 is a section through the shock absorber.

Referring to the drawings, l is thebase of a conventional type thermostatic Vactuator, having the usual elements characterl 'lhe lifting pin-2 contacts with the leverV 3 which is pivoted at This leverv (3) contacts at its Vouter end at 5,l with the lever 6 whicliispivoted at 7 Contacting with the -levei'ietlie horizontal lil) arm 8 ot the roelter 9. An upright arm 10, at substantially a right angle to the arm 8, is volied and partly surrounds the shaft 11.

lltending upwardly from the base l are standards upon which is secured, by the screws 13, the base 14 of the amplitier. On a bracket 15 projecting` from one o'l the standards 12 a gas valve body 1G, secured to the bracket by the screws 15', and having an inlet connection at 1T and an outlet at 1S. The valve 19 when in closedA position rests on the seat 20, and is fixed on thespindle 21. t stutiing boi: may be supplied, as seen at Rising 'from the amplifier base (1l.) are two nprights 23 and 2%, through which are bored holes serving as bearings for the shafts 11 and 25. At a spaced distance from the upright is a block 26 secured to the base (14) by the screws 26. Upon this block is a stud 27 and operating on. the

latter is a two-way pawl 28 having dogs 28 and 2S and an arm 28 extending ove and beyond the shaft 11.

Set into the shalt 25 in contiguous relation to the pawl 28, is a recessed plate 29 secured to the shaft by the screws 30. It will be noticed that the length of the recess 29 is less than the over all lengthot the two pawl dogs 2oa and 28h. Secured to the shaft 25, by set screws 31, are the collars and 33, and fixed on the shaftl 'l1 by means of the pin 31 is the sleeve with an arm extending therefrom to and around the bushing 37 which is secured tothe shaft lixedly.

0n each side ot the arm an'd slidable on the shatft 25, are collars 38' and 3E). interposed between the collars 32 and 38 and also between the collars 33' and 39, are the helical springs 4f() and lll, respectively. linned te the shaft 11 are linocl-oiiiscrew collars lf2 and and through extensions Ll2 and 4133 thereon, operate the knock-oil screws #1l and 2&5, respectively,--the latter members being susceptible of adjustment in and out ot the extensions.

l`hrusting on collars 16 placed on the shaft 11 between the sleeve 35 and the upright- 23, is the helical spring 47, and on the same sliaitt (11), outside of the upright 23 is tixed a collar 48 which limits the movement ot' the shaft 11 against the expansion ot the spring` Il?. On the outer end of the shaft 11 is a collar 4f) having a 'convex tace abutting on the arm 10.

ln Figs. 1 and 2 the parts, as drawn, represent the position they assumeV when the valve is open.

In operation, the temperatureot the water in the tank 50 haviiig risen salii'eiently, the lifting pin 2 is moved a short distance out ot the thermo tube 51, and,tlirongh the agency of the several intervening levers, siil'lrats the rockdi- 9 s 'that' the aria i0 Larmes forces the collar e9, the' shaft l1 and all parts mounted thereon in a direction toward the right, as viewed in Figs. 1, 2, Ll, 5 and (3. As this movement to the right continues the parts will shortly come to the position in which they are 'hown in Fig. Ll, after moving a distance represented by the character (6. At this point the sleeve 535 has compressed the spring 47, the arm 36, moving along the bushing ST, has compressed the spring Ll-1 and the screw ll has been brought into Contact with the arm 2S. The actuation of the parts thus tar has been without etlect on the spring llt), and the valve 19 is still oit its seat.

it slight further movement, however, ot the shaft 1.1 in the same direction as before, represented by b, will cause the pawl dog 28a to become disengaged 'from the plate 2t) and the expanding power stored in the spring,` will force the shaft 25 forwardly, or to the right as seen in the drawings, and close the valve, cutting oli further admission ot to the burner, bringing the two springs et() and 41 into their normal or equalized positions, relative to each other, and the pawl dog 28b will now be located in the opposite end of the recess 29 in the plate 29.

The arrangement of the di'tierent parts are now as shown in Fig. 5 and at this time. the valve is closed'.

The foregoing describes the action ol the device in closing the valve. T he valve opening procedure i's quite similar except that for this duty the spring 117, which when the alve is closed is under compression, functions as thc power agentand moves the shaft 11 to the lett, compressing the spring 420 and releases the pawl dog 28h. Previous to the opening of the valve the temperature ot the tank water must, of course7 have been lowered so as to have allowed the lifting pin 2 to descend and the other power actuating parts to recede to their original positions as seen in Figs. l and Fig. #l is the antithesis of Fig. @fthe former showing the position of the parts when the valve is open but just on the point vof closing, and the latter Fig. 6 showin-g these parts when the valve is closed but immediately preceding its opening.

in order to provide proper expansive power for the springs '-10 and l1 to open and close, respectively, the valve 19, l may adjust the collars- 32 and on the shaft bringing the two springs into proper eX- pansibility.

I also providel a shocflr absorber which l mount on the valve spindle 21 for the chief purpose of alleviating somewhat the impact or pound of' the valve on its seating, i ident to elosiiig".A In 'T I show a secew o this'. elementi, which consists -52, in a. 53A in. which I. fix theA lll) Valve spindle 2l by means of the pin 54. Gn the opposite end of the sleeve a bore receives the shaft 25 and between the vend of the latter and the bottom of the bore 55 I insert the helical springI 56. This spring is always under a compression of a predetermined amount. To prevent the sleeve from withdra *al from off the shaft 25 I fir-I a pin 57 in and through the sleeve and through a slot 58 in the shaft 25. This slot allows the shaft to telescope the sleeve a certain amount and makes the connection between the shaft 25 and the valve spindle 2l yielding.

Another purpose which this shock absorber' serves is to keep the valve, when in closed position, seated with an elastic pressure, `When the pawl dog 281 is engaged, the pin 57 is midway of the slot 58, and the spring 55 exerts a strain on the shaft 25 and holds the valve yieldingly. This condition is brought about by the fact that Vwhen the pawl dog 28a dis/engages, the impact of the valve seating will allow the shaft 25 to telescope the sleeve 52 sufficiently to allow the pawl deg 28b to engage before the pin 57 can reach the end of the slot 58, as seen in Fig'. 7

Referring to Fig. 8 wherein is shown a section through the arm 28 of the two-way pawl 28, 59 is a spring' under tension, located in a bore GO of the arm. One end of the spring is secured tothe stud 27 and the 'other end to a pin 6l. rIhis spring has the effect of keeping` the pawl constantly in contact with the plate 29 and causes the dogs 28 and 28b to engage the shoulders of the recess 29 more quickly and firmly.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

l. In a quick-release speed-amplifier, consisting of a base, bearings on said base, a shaft reciprocable in said bearings, means to actuate said shaft, a second shaft reciprocable in other bearings yon said base,-said second shaft to be in parallel relation to said first shaft, means on said first shaft co-acting,- with means on said second shaft whereby a yielding pressure may be exerted on said second shaft, alternately, forwardly and lmekwardly, longitudinally of the same, a stop on said second shaft, a two-way pawl pivotally mounted on said base and adapted to engage said stop, alternately, in forward and backward movements of said second shaft, and means on said first shaft for tripping said pawl whereby the acquired energy stored in said second shaft may be precipitately released.

2. In a quick-release speed-amplifier, consisting of a base, bearings on said base, a shaft reciprocable in said bearings, means t0 scalate Seid Shaft s Secca@ shaft reciprocable in other bearings on said base, means on said first shaft co-actlng with means on said second shaft whereby a;

yielding pressure may be exerted on said second shaft, alternately, backwardly and forwardly, longitudinally of said shaft, a stop on said second shaft, a two-way pawl pivotally mounted on said base and adapted to alternately engage said stop in its ferward and backward movements, a pawl arm on said two-way pawl projecting outwardly and centrally of said pawl, knock-off screws on said first shaft, Ione screw on one side and another of the said screws on the other side of the said pawl arm, and in alignment therewith, said knock-off screws in co-action with the reciprocation of said first shaft to constitute means whereby said. pawl may release said stop 'on said second shaft at predetermined times.

3. In a quick-release speed-amplifier, consist-ing of a base, bearings on said base, ay shaft adapted to reciprocate in said bearings, means to actuate said shaft, in one direction, positively, means to actuate said shaft in the opposite direction, yieldingly, means to restrict the movement of said shaft when under yielding actuation, a second shaft reciproeable in other bearings on said base, said second shaft to be in parallel relation to said firstshaft, a sleeve fixed on said first shaft, an arm on said sleeve having a bore therein, a. collar fixed to said second shaft and adapted to reciprocate, intermittently, within said bore of said arm, sprmg` adjustment collars adjustably fixed on said second shaft, one o-f said collars to be on each side of said first named collar and a spaced distance therefrom, spring abutment collars loosely mounted on said second shaft, one to be on each side of said first mentioned collar and normally in contiguous relation therewith, helical springs interposed between the adjacent fixed and loosely mounted spring' abutment collars on each side of the said first named collar, said springs adapted to yieldingly resist any movement of their respective and adjacent loosely mounted abutment collars away from said first named collar, dogging means on said second shaft, adapted to hold the said second shaft against the yielding pressure of said springs, means on said first shaft to trip said. dogging means at predetermined times, means to cushion said second shaft from the impact due to its release from said clogging means, and means for varying the potency of the yielding pressure in said springs by varying the position, longitudinally, of said tripping means on said first mentioned shaft, substantially as described.

ANDREW G, SPINNEY. 

